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As served by a hotel in the red, perhaps? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dinner

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'as' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'a hotel in the red perhaps?' is the wordplay.
'a hotel' becomes 'inn' (inn is a kind of hotel).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'perhaps?' indicates an anagram (I've seen 'perhaps' mean this).
'red' anagrammed gives 'der'.
'inn' placed into 'der' is 'DINNER'.

'served by' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dinner that I've seen before include "one making a row?" , "Repast" , "What feeds" , "Supper" , "Eat it in the strange red inn" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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